Porisma

Worked solution

Construct a plane parallel to a line and measure their separation

Line l is x−a=y+2=(z+5)/5x-a=y+2=(z+5)/5, and plane p1 is 3x+2y−z=43x+2y-z=4. Plane p1 contains l.

(i) Show a=1. marks

Plane p2 passes through E=(−2,−5,8) and meets p1 in l.

(ii) Find the Cartesian equation of p2. marks

(iii) Find N, the perpendicular foot from E to p1. marks

Plane p3 contains E,N and does not intersect l.

(iv) Find its Cartesian equation. Hence find the distance from l to p3. marks

[2012/AJC/Promo/10(modified)]

CJC · Review problems · Question 5

Answer

a=1; p2:x−y=3x-y=3; N=(4,−1,6); p3:11x−16y+z=6611x-16y+z=66; distance 28/37828/\sqrt{378}.

(i) Use a point on the contained line

l:r=(a,−2,−5)+λ(1,1,5)l:\mathbf r=(a,-2,-5)+\lambda(1,1,5). Since (a,−2,−5)(a,-2,-5) lies on p1, 3a−4+5=43a-4+5=4, so a=1.

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(ii) Cross directions in p2

With A=(1,−2,−5) on l, EA=(3,3,−13)EA=(3,3,-13). A normal is (1,1,5)×(3,3,−13)=(−28,28,0)=−28(1,−1,0)(1,1,5)\times(3,3,-13)=(-28,28,0)=-28(1,-1,0). Using E, r⋅(1,−1,0)=3\mathbf r\cdot(1,-1,0)=3, hence p2:x−y=3x-y=3.

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(iii) Intersect a normal through E with p1

EN:r=(−2,−5,8)+μ(3,2,−1)EN:\mathbf r=(-2,-5,8)+\mu(3,2,-1). In p1, 3(−2+3μ)+2(−5+2μ)−(8−μ)=43(-2+3\mu)+2(-5+2\mu)-(8-\mu)=4. Thus −6+9μ−10+4μ−8+μ=4-6+9\mu-10+4\mu-8+\mu=4, 14μ=2814\mu=28, μ=2 and N=(4,−1,6).

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(iv) Build the nonintersecting parallel plane

Because p3 contains EN and must be parallel to l without containing it, take its normal as (1,1,5)×(3,2,−1)=(−11,16,−1)(1,1,5)\times(3,2,-1)=(-11,16,-1). Through E, r⋅(−11,16,−1)=22−80−8=−66\mathbf r\cdot(-11,16,-1)=22-80-8=-66, equivalently p3:11x−16y+z=6611x-16y+z=66.

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(iv) Project a separating displacement

Use A on l and E on p3. Their difference is EA=(3,3,−13)EA=(3,3,-13). The separation is

∣EA⋅(11,−16,1)∣112+162+12=∣33−48−13∣378=28378.\begin{aligned}&\frac{|EA\cdot(11,-16,1)|}{\sqrt{11^2+16^2+1^2}}\\ & =\frac{|33-48-13|}{\sqrt{378}}\\ & =\frac{28}{\sqrt{378}}.\end{aligned}

It is nonzero, confirming l is parallel to but not contained in p3.

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Common mistakes

A line parallel to a plane may lie in it; the nonzero separation confirms the requested no-intersection condition.

Solution notes

All printed asks, cross products, foot equations and distance calculation retained. No source figures.

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